Closure cap having flexible seal and opener



Sept. 9, 1969 w. L. WAGNER ET AL 3,455,906

CLOSURE CAP HAVING FLEXIBLE SEAL AND OPENER Filed Oct. 3. 1968 FIG 3 INVENTOR. 6 QACK mMJHeA-ron \AIARREM LWAGMQK 29? United States Patent 3.465.906 CLOSURE CAP HAVING FLEXIBLE SEAL AND OPENER Warren L. Wagner, Temperance, Mich., and Jack M.

Wheaton, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois.

Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 764,727 Int. Cl. B6511 41/46', 41/40 US. Cl. 215-40 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel closure cap comprising a skirted aluminum or sheet metal shell and a sealing ring which is secured therein and incorporates a conveniently placed pull-tab which facilitates cap removal.

Another object of this invention is the provision of container closing means comprising a skirted sheet metal or aluminum shell and a pull-tab incorporating sealing ring creating an inner facing for the entire skirt, the ring being bonded to the latter only at its upper margin, and the shell skirt having a series of transverse lines of weakness facilitating cap removal through manipulation of the pull-tab.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a closure cap of the above character, lines of weakness in the form of transverse scores at intervals along the circumference of the skirt, such scores extending upwardly a substantial distance from the free edge of the skirt, all to the end that with proper pulling of the tab, the sealing ring will in large measure stretch and move bodily relative to the skirt and tend to engage the lower margin of the scored skirt and lift same in a fashion to open the skirt at one or more of the scores, thereby materially facilitating cap removal.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the closure cap at one stage of the removal procedure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one form of closure cap shell;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the closure cap telescoped over the container finish or neck;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, but with the skirt margin turned inwardly to secure the cap to the container;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 3 showing a modified skirt design; and

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5, but with the curled skirt edge contracted to secure the cap to the container.

The closure cap C is intended for use with a container, a glass jar for example, comprising a body 15, having a neck 16, or finish, defining a mouth 17. The exterior of this neck provides an annular side-sealing surface 18 which may flare downwardly slightly from the rim 19 to facilitate closure cap application, as is obvious.

The closure cap C, which may well be formed of sheet aluminum, comprises a disk-like panel 20, or top portion and a depending annular attaching skirt 21. The

ice

panel may incorporate a vacuum detection feature :involving a center dome 22 which is deflected axially inward only if a container hermetically sealed by the closure cap is under satisfactory vacuum. If otherwise, the dome 22 will protrude upwardly, providing visual evidence that the package has been tampered with, or for some other reason is not properly vacuumized.

The closure cap skirt 21 is weakened transversely at several circumferentially spaced points to aid in cap removal, Such involves several transverse scores 23 or score lines extending upwardly from the lower edge of the skirt, there optionally being a notch 24 at the lower end of each score for the purpose of facilitating initiation of score-line breakage as part of the cap removal procedure, as will become apparent presently.

Within the shell portion of the closure cap C, an annular sealing gasket 25, or ring, is secured, such preferably lying against the entire width of the interior surface of the skirt 21 and, if desired, having an inward extension 26 at its upper margin. The lower margin of this sealing ring may project slightly below and, if desired, across the free edge of the skirt, resulting in protection of the said free edge upon completion of the cap affixing procedure. The sealing gasket or ring may well be formed of any suitable plastic or rubber sealing composition. A pull-tab 27 which may be embossed, as in FIG. 1, or otherwise surface roughened to enhance grasping, is an integral part of the sealing ring. This ring preferably is secured in the shell simply by bonding its upper end portion to the shell substantially at and in close proximity to the juncture of the panel 20 and skirt 21, the remainder of the ring being free to shift bodily, or stretch, independently of the skirt, in response to pulling of the pull-tab 27. It is to be noted that in securing the closure cap C to the neck 16, the lower edge of the shell is turned inwardly about as shown in FIG. 4. In removing the cap C, one merely grasps the pull-tab 27 and pulls it upwardly and away from the container, such resulting in stretching and moving the ring bodily somewhat, more or less independently of the shell skirt. Thus a segment of the sealing ring, due to pulling of the tab may well be displaced sufiiciently to, in part, engage the bottom edge of the skirt and with continued pulling of the tab, break an adjacent score or scores and expand the skirt. A broken score could also be evidence of tampering. Thus cap removal is effected. This could not be so easily accomplished if the sealing ring were bonded throughout the skirt interior, since in such event the closure shell and gasket or ring would perform as if they were a single, one-piece structure, removable only with great difficulty, as is apparent.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the sealing gasket 25 or ring is held in the closure cap as previously described, or otherwise. At the lower margin a more or less open curl 28, or head, is formed, such disposed at least in part radially outward from the plane of the skirt exterior. Thus, a suitable rin like chuck (not shown) which may he slipped over the closure cap skirt, contacts and contracts the bead 28 to about the position shown in FIG. 6, thereby firmly aflixing the cap to the container. If preferred, the skirt may be provided with only two scores, such being so spaced apart that one will be at each side of the pull-tab 27, rather than there being many more throughout the entire skirt circumference. In such event, pulling of the tab would, of course, Open at least one of the scores and thus ease cap removal.

To further aid in cap removal, the inward extension 26 over the neck rim may have at least one transverse venting channel 29 which functions incident to a degree of initial gasket displacement to admit atmospheric air to the container interior, thereby to break the vacuum and further ease cap removal. If only one vent is employed, it preferably should be in the pull-tab area so that manipulation of the latter Will create communication between the venting channel and the atmosphere.

Modifications may be resorted to Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A closure cap comprising a sheet metal shell including a circular panel and an annular depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel, the skirt having circumferentially spaced-apart transverse lines of Weakness extending upwardly from the free edge of the skirt, a sealing ring lying against the interior surface of the skirt and a generally radial pull-tab formed as an integral part of the ring, there being a bond between the sealing ring and shell only substantially at the juncture of the panel and skirt.

2. A closure cap as defined in claim 1, the bond being restricted to the corner defined by the juncture of the panel and skirt. 9

3. A closure cap as defined in claim 1, the lines of Weakness being scores in the skirt extending upwardly from its bottom edge.

4. A closure cap as defined in claim 1, the pull-tab having a roughened surface to facilitate manual grasping of same.

5. A closure cap as defined in claim 1, and an annular head at the free edge of the skirt extending at least in part radially outward of the skirt exterior for engagement with a bead-contracting tool.

6. A closure cap as defined in claim 1, the lines of Weakness being a score line at each side of the pull-tab.

7. A closure cap as defined in claim 1, there being an annular radial extension of the gasket lying against the interior surface of the panel margin, said extension having a transverse venting channel therein.

8. A closure cap as defined in claim 3, there being notches individual to the scores in said bottom edge of the skirt.

9. A closure cap as defined in claim 7, the venting channel being positioned in the area of said pull-tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

